Don’t compare me with Kohli, says Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal

In the last three years, Virat Kohli has broken records at will and earned plaudits from all quarters of the cricket world. Currently, Kohli is the only batsman in the world to be in the top five of the ICC rankings in all three formats. But Akmal, who was touted as one of the big things in Pakistan cricket, has been criticized for not being able to turn his potential into consistent performances. 

On being asked why he had not attained the heights of Kohli, Akmal said, “Look, you know more than me. When people compare me with Kohli, it’s not fair. It’s a matter of batting positions. Since his (Kohli) debut, he is batting at No. 3 and I have been playing at No. 6. Let me play at 3 and Kohli at 6, then compare me to him," reported Wisden India.

“Compare him with Babar Azam, who is doing well at 3. He is in great form, so you can compare him with Babar.”

Umar Akmal, known for his lacunae behind the stumps, has scored 3044 runs in 116 One-Day Internationals with only two hundreds while Virat Kohli reached unreal heights in his career by hitting 27 hundreds in 179 matches. 

Umar is also known for his indisciplined behaviour and lost his place in the Test side after disobeying skipper Misbah-ul-Haq’s instructions during the Zimbabwe tour in 2011. Reportedly, Akmal has also complained about his low position in the batting order to Imran Khan. 

On being asked about the same, he said, “I never wailed over my number. I do everything for my team. Whatever cricket I have played, it’s for the team and the number comes later. But when people compare me with Kohli, only then do I point out that I bat in the lower middle order.”